Matt Smith: Doctor Who should be scary and sexy

Matt Smith can't understand criticisms of 'Doctor Who' as he believes the show should be dark, scary, and sexy

Matt Smith believes 'Doctor Who' should be "dark, scary and sexy".

The actor - who plays the eleventh incantation of the titular Timelord - can't understand criticisms of the programme for being less family-friendly, as he thinks it still has the same values as in the 1970s.

Asked if he thinks the show is too dark, scary or sexy, he said: "No! I think it's ridiculous to say so. I think it should be all of those things. I think it should be dark, I think it should be scary.

"And sexy? I mean, for God's sake, look at the companions of Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker [the third and fourth Doctors] in their tiny, Tarzanian tops."

Matt also hit out at criticism of his co-star Karen Gillan's skimpy outfits for her character Amy Pond, insisting the sexiness of the Doctor's companion is part of the programme's appeal for older male viewers.

He told Live magazine: "What do people want Karen to dress in - a floor-length skirt, a pair of jeans and a hoodie? I mean, she's a beautiful woman. Amy Pond is a sexy character, by her very nature. No one's quite like Amy.

"God, I just think all of that is brilliant, because it is fun. I think it's clever, too. Have you ever watched 'The Simpsons' with your son and laughed at different things? Isn't that one of the virtues of a show like this, when you can see something and look over and go, 'Know what? In a few years, you'll get that one.' "I think that's what Steven [Moffat, executive producer] does. Don't tell me that the dads at home don't go, 'Ah, cool - Karen's on.' "